Ideal plated cup set

ABSTRACT

A plated cup set apparatus adapted to facilitate single-handed control thereof is provided. The plated cup set apparatus may include a planar base having a first surface and an opposing second surface. The second surface forms a hand imprint. An elongated member spans a knuckle width of the hand imprint, wherein the opposing ends of the elongated member are joined to the second surface, thereby a user may snugly slide their hand into the hand imprint and between the elongated member and the second surface for gaining single-handed control of the plated cup set apparatus with the wrist providing needed support of the beverage container. The first surface, in addition to accommodating food stuff, may provide a container opening and a utensil notch for slidably receiving and retaining a beverage container and utensils, respectively, therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to food and beverage holders and, more particularly, to a plated cup set for serving food and beverages, whereby the plated cup set is adapted to be single-handedly controlled in a secure manner.

At social gatherings where guests are eating and drinking, it is difficult to hold a plate of food, a beverage container and utensils in both hands when embracing or shaking the hands of others, making comfortable greetings a difficulty.

As can be seen, there is a need for a plated cup set for serving food and beverages, whereby the plated cup set is adapted to be single-handedly controlled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a plated cup holder apparatus includes a planar base having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a hand imprint formed in the second surface; and an elongated member disposed to span a knuckle width of the hand imprint, wherein opposing ends of the elongated member are joined to the second surface.

In another aspect of the present invention, a plated cup holder includes a planar base having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a hand imprint formed in the second surface, wherein the hand imprint has at least one thumb portion; an elongated member disposed to span a knuckle width of the hand imprint, wherein opposing ends of the elongated member are joined to the second surface; a rim disposed along a periphery of the planar base so as to define a periphery of the first surface; a utensil notch formed along a portion of the rim, wherein the utensil notch is dimensioned to retain a plurality of utensils; a container ridge along a portion of the first surface, wherein the container ridge defines a container opening communicating to the first surface; a plurality of container flaps pivotally connected along a periphery of the container opening so as to extend into said container opening, wherein the plurality of container flaps are movable between an unloaded condition and a loaded condition, and wherein the plurality of flaps are biased in the unloaded condition; and a peripheral ridge defined between the hand imprint and a periphery of the planar base, wherein the peripheral ridge is adapted to engage a wrist of a human hand engaging the hand imprint.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a detail section view of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage container/opening/flaps portion of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a plated cup set apparatus adapted to facilitate secure single-handed control thereof. The plated cup set apparatus may include a planar base having a first surface and an opposing second surface. The second surface forms a hand imprint. An elongated member spans a knuckle width of the hand imprint, wherein the opposing ends of the elongated member are joined to the second surface, thereby a user may snugly slide their hand into the hand imprint and between the elongated member and the second surface for gaining single-handed control of the plated cup holder apparatus. The first surface, in addition to accommodating food stuff, may provide a container opening and a utensil notch for slidably receiving and retaining a beverage container and utensils, respectively, therein.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention may include a plated cup holder apparatus 10 adapted to be an ideal plated cup set, whereby a user may single-handedly control plated food, utensils and a beverage container so as to keep their other hand free for, example, comfortably greeting guests at a social gathering.

The plated cup holder apparatus 10 may have a generally planar base 12 defining a first surface 11 and an opposing second surface 13. The planar base 12 may be any shape, such as circular, semi-circular, rectangular, random, and the like, sufficient to function in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The planar base 12 may be made from any material—through injection molding, additive printing or other acceptable processes—providing a sufficient rigidity to function in accordance with the present invention as described herein.

A rim 14 may be provided along a periphery of the planar base 12 so as to define an opening to the first surface 11. The rim 14 may form a utensil notch 20 along a portion thereof, wherein the utensil notch 20 is dimensioned and adapted to retain utensils 28, 30 therein, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A container ridge 16 may be provided along the first surface 11, wherein the container ridge 16 defines a container opening 18 adapted to separately receive and secure beverage containers 32, such as a cup, of different sizes. It being understood that the beverage container 32 need not contain a beverage. A plurality of container flaps 34 may extend from a periphery of the container ridge 16 into the container opening 18, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In certain embodiments, the plurality of container flaps 34 may extend so as to engage each other along interfaces 35, taking up the entire container opening 18, in other embodiments, they may not. The plurality of container flaps 34 may be pivotally connected along the periphery of the container ridge 16 so as to move between an unloaded condition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and a loaded configuration, when the container opening 18 is in receipt of a beverage container 32, as illustrated FIG. 5. The plurality of container flaps 34 are biased in the unloaded condition, and so when in the loaded configuration, the plurality of container flaps 34 apply pressure along a periphery of the loaded beverage container 32, thereby securing the beverage container 32 therein, regardless of shape or size (as long as it passes through the container opening 18), as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Along the second surface 13 a hand imprint 22 is formed, wherein the hand imprint 22 is dimensioned and adapted to receive a portion of a hand 26 of a human user and requires the user to rest the beverage container on top of the wrist for support, in part because of the presence of the result of the hand imprint 22 and a peripheral ridge 36 between the hand imprint 22 and a periphery of the plated cup set apparatus 10, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The peripheral ridge 36 acts as a load bearing pedestal. In certain embodiments, a thumb portion 23 of the hand imprint 22 may be disposed relative to a remainder of the hand imprint 22 to accommodate a left hand 26, and alternatively, a right hand 26 (when either hand's palm is facing the second surface 13). In other words, there may be a right-hand and a left-hand embodiment. In another embodiment, there may be two opposable thumb portions 23 (second thumb portion 23 not shown) relative to the remainder of the hand imprint 22. It being understood that the thumb portion 23 is dimensioned to accommodate a thumb of the operator's hand 26, while the remaining portions of the hand imprint 22 are dimensioned to accommodate the fingers and palm (or back hand) of the operator's hand 26, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

An elongated member 24 may be joined at opposing ends thereof to the second surface 13. The elongated member 24 may range from four to seven inches in length, sufficient to allow the fingers and palm of the hand 26 between the elongated member 24 and the hand imprint 22 in a snug fitting relationship. In other words, the elongated member 24 is disposed so that the opposing ends thereof span a knuckle width of the hand imprint 22 so that both imprint 22 and member 24 in conjunction with the user hand 26 facilitate improved single-handed control over the plated cup set apparatus 10. The knuckle width may be defined as a distance to accommodate at least the knuckles of the fingers of the operator's hand 26, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The plated cup set apparatus 10 disclosed above may be provided. A user may snugly slide their hand 26 into the hand imprint 22 and between the elongated member 24, wherein the user-operator is permitted single-handed secure control of the plated cup holder apparatus 10 with food disposed on the first surface 11, utensil 28, 30 retained in the utensil notch 20 and a beverage container 32 snugly received in the container opening 18. The plated cup set apparatus 10 is adapted so that it is supported on top of user's wrist as a result of the hand imprint 22 and the peripheral ridge 36. Thereby enabling the operator to utilize their other hand, for example to greet others at a social gathering.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. An apparatus, comprising: a base having a first surface and an opposing second planar surface; a hand imprint recessed in the second planar surface; and a peripheral ridge disposed between a wrist portion the hand print and a periphery of the second planar surface, wherein the peripheral ridge is contiguous with the second planar surface, and wherein a radial width of the peripheral ridge is substantially less than a radial width of a palm portion of the hand print.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rim disposed along a periphery of the planar base so as to define a periphery of the first surface.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a utensil notch defined by a U-shaped void of a portion of the rim so that the utensil notch is adapted to retain at least one utensil laying in a prone orientation along the first surface.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an elongated member disposed to span a knuckle width of the hand imprint, wherein opposing ends of the elongated member are joined to the second planar surface.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a container ridge along a portion of the first surface, wherein the container ridge defines a container opening communicating to the first surface.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of container flaps pivotally connected along a periphery of the container opening so as to extend into said container opening.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of container flaps are movable between an unloaded condition and a loaded condition, and wherein the plurality of flaps are biased in the unloaded condition.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand imprint has at least one thumb portion.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. An apparatus, comprising: a planar base having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a hand imprint formed in the second surface, wherein the hand imprint has at least one thumb portion; an elongated member disposed to span a knuckle width of the hand imprint, wherein opposing ends of the elongated member are joined to the second surface; a rim disposed along a periphery of the planar base so as to define a periphery of the first surface; a utensil notch defined by a U-shaped void of a portion of the rim so that the utensil notch is adapted to retain at least one utensil laying in a prone orientation along the first surface; a container ridge along a portion of the first surface, wherein the container ridge defines a container opening communicating to the first surface; a plurality of container flaps pivotally connected along a periphery of the container opening so as to extend into said container opening, wherein the plurality of container flaps are movable between an unloaded condition and a loaded condition, and wherein the plurality of flaps are biased in the unloaded condition; and a peripheral ridge disposed between a wrist portion of the hand imprint and a periphery of the second planar surface, wherein the peripheral ridge is contiguous with the second planar surface, and wherein a radial width of the peripheral ridge is substantially less than a radial width of a palm portion of the hand print.
 12. (canceled) 